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Storm brings risk of dangerous flooding to much of the North State

The Sacramento River Friday at the Red Bluff Diversion Dam.
Dave Schlom
/
NSPR
The Sacramento River Friday at the Red Bluff Diversion Dam.

Another round of atmospheric river storms is hitting the North State this week.

Flooding remains a major concern as many rivers across the state are forecast to hit the flood stage. A flood watch is in effect for much of Northern California until 10 a.m. Wednesday. A winter storm warning is in effect until 5 a.m. Wednesday.

Residents living along rivers in low-lying areas may need to evacuate. Here's what to expect and where to find emergency information:

Monitoring river levels

The National Weather Service is forecasting the Sacramento River could reach flood stage in parts of Tehama and Butte Counties as soon as Tuesday evening. Areas along the Sacramento River forecast to hit flood stage include the Tehama Bridge, the Vina Woodson Bridge, and Ord Ferry.

The middle fork of the Feather River was forecast to exceed flood stage at around 11 a.m. today. The Plumas County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation warning for low-lying areas along the river around Beckwourth to Sloat overnight Monday. Residents in that area should monitor emergency information and be prepared to evacuate.

The NWS’s California-Nevada River Forecast Center provides a map that shows whether rivers are below, at, or expected to exceed flood stage. It also shows the time when river levels are expected to peak.

Driving during the storm

CalTrans is urging residents to be safe while traveling during the storm.

Motorists should not drive around safety barriers or road closures, or cross flooded roadways. As little as one foot of water can carry a car off the road.

CalTrans updates road conditions on it’s website quickmap.dot.ca.gov. The agency also has a list of winter driving tips for those who do need to travel during the storm.

Preparing to evacuate

Have an evacuation kit packed for yourself, your family, and your pets so that you can leave as quickly as possible should evacuation orders come. Many of these items can be packed into a backpack, which should be kept in an easily accessible location so that you can grab the bag and evacuate quickly.

Once an evacuation warning has been given, it’s a good idea to put your evacuation kits into your car so that you can leave once the order is made.

Signing up for evacuation alerts

Residents should sign up to receive emergency alerts in their county should an evacuation order or warning be issued.